Macy’s to Furlough 100k Employees

Hey, this reminds me of the announcement a couple weeks ago that Amazon is hiring 100k warehouse staff.<p>In China, companies responded to this shift in demand by having the online-retail&#x2F;logistics companies (demand way up, not enough workers) contract with the physical-retail companies (demand way down, too many workers) for their workers&#x27; time. You&#x27;d still be a Macy&#x27;s employee, but you&#x27;d be doing Amazon&#x27;s work, and Amazon would send Macy&#x27;s a big pile of cash.<p>Somehow that seems better for all involved than the way we appear to be going.

Sadly this whole current mess may be an insurmountable hurdle for an industry that was already struggling. This is all going to force some changes for what the future of retail looks like.<p>Hopefully in the long run we can all find a place for in person retail. I buy a lot online but still like going to stores sometimes too. We will likely see the industry re-invent instead a bit with smaller footprints and a focus on things that sell better in person than online.

At least they can stay on their health insurance. It’s always mind boggling that in the US you will not just lose your job when you get laid off but also your health insurance. For a lot of people this is life threatening.

I hope the furloughed workers will be able to get unemployment benefits or something similar. Otherwise being furloughed is the worst of both worlds: employed, but unpaid.<p>On the other hand, being furloughed rather than laid off will mean the workers keep their health insurance.

Doesn&#x27;t look good, they had earlier corporate layoffs in February [1], before this entire thing hit. My guess is it&#x27;s only a matter of time before they close shop for good.<p>Also check out all the WARN notices from businesses in NY posted in the last week [2]. COVID-19 is largest (within the USA) in NY. As a result many businesses are closing &#x2F; furloughing &#x2F; laying off people.<p>[1]: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.labor.ny.gov&#x2F;app&#x2F;warn&#x2F;details.asp?id=7098" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.labor.ny.gov&#x2F;app&#x2F;warn&#x2F;details.asp?id=7098</a><p>[2]: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.labor.ny.gov&#x2F;app&#x2F;warn&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.labor.ny.gov&#x2F;app&#x2F;warn&#x2F;</a>

I&#x27;m shocked Macy&#x27;s has 100k employees. I thought most of their locations closed? Or was that just Seattle.

Seems a little unfair that if your store happens to sell groceries in a part of it then it can stay open.

No big surprise. Given that retail was already in decline before this some of these jobs will probably not come back.